Folding bench.



A. R. WERNER.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. R. WERNER.

FOLDING BENCH.

APPLICATION mu) JAN. I6. 1913.

1 ,284, 5 1 2 Patented NOV. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 l i I I {as Inventor: fldolphli. Wrner,

ADOLPI-I R. WERNER, EAST MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed January 16, 1918. Serial N 0. 212,354.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPH R. WERNER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of East Milton, in the county of Norfolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Benches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to work benches and particularly to foldingbenches which will occupy but little space when not in use and which maybe quickly placed in condition for use with all its parts rigidly lockedtogether when in operative position. I

The principal object of the invention is to produce a work bench for useon vessels either in the engine room or in any other room where a benchof this character may be required, said bench being pivoted to abulkhead in such a manner that when not in use it will be locked invertical position adjacent to said bulkhead and form a cupboard in whichvarious articles may be stored.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securely lockingthe bench to the bulkhead when it is in position for use, thereby givingit the necessary rigidity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means on the underside of the bench for retaining thereon various articles which may berequired from time to time when the bench is in use and which articleswill be readily accessible when the bench is in inoperative position.

The invention consists in brackets permanently bolted to a bulkhead andhaving pivoted thereto the lower ends of a pair of struts or braces,said struts or braces having hinged to their upper ends a bench adapted,when not in use, to fold down against the rear faces of said struts orbraces and rest at its rear end on a shelf secured to the bulkhead whenthe bench is in operable position.

The invention further consists in providing each of the braces with twothreaded rods of different lengths and pivoted thereto. either of whichis adapted, by means of a suitable turn buckle, to be secured to athreaded rod secured in said bulkhead, the longer pivoted rod being usedwhen the bench is in operable position and the shorter rod being usedwhen the bench is in inoperable position.

The invention further consists of certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention one preferred form thereofis illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can bevariously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described, except as required by the scope of theappended claims.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a bench embodying theprinciples of the present invention, said bench being shown in operativeposition.

Fig. 2 represents an end View of the same.

Fig. 3 represents an end view of the same when in inoperative position,and v Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the bench when not in use.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawmgs.

In the drawings, 10, 10 are two wall brackets secured to a bulkhead 11by means of the rivets 12. These brackets 10 have vertical plates 13extending outwardly from the bulkhead 11 and perpendicularly thereto andto the lower outer corner of said plates 13 are pivoted at 14 the lowerends of the struts or braces 15 preferably formed of angle iron, withthe upper ends inclined to the rear faces thereof as shown in Figs. 2and 3 at 16.

These inclined faces 16 form a support for the front end of the bench 17which is connected to the struts or braces 15 by means of hinges 18 theleaves of which are secured respectively to the under face of the bench17 and the rear faces of said struts or braces 15.

The rear end of the bench 17 is adapted necting the threaded ends ofsaid stud and rod.

As the threads on the ends of said stud and rod are right and lefthanded it is obvious that by turning the turn-buckle 22 the inner end ofthe bench 17 may be drawn into firm contact with the bulkhead 11 or saidturn-buckle may be turned in the opposite direction to disconnect saidstud 20 and rod 21. so that the bench 17 may be folded into the positionshown in Fig. 3 with the top of the bench 17 facing the bulk head 11.

The bench 17 may be locked in this position by means of another rod 23pivotally connected to each strut 15, this other rod being much shorterthan the rod 20 and having a threaded end adapted to be received in theturn-buckle 22 all in an obvious manner. The rod 21 is pivotallyconnected to the strut 14: by means of an eye 24: secured to said strutwhile the rod :23 is similarly connected to an eye secured to said strutat a lower point but in the same vertical plane.

IVheu the bench 17 is installed in an engine room of a vessel to be used"tor repair work. it is usually provided with a vise and on the underside has secured thereto a. plurality of retainers 27 adapted to receivevarious tools 28 required from time to time in making repairs.

IVhen the bench is folded in inoperative position the tools '28 areexposed to view as shown in Fig. 4 and are readily accessible while whenthe bench 17 is in operative position the tools 28 may be easilywithdrznvn from the retainers 27.

The wall brackets 10 are connected by a tie plate 29 interposed betweenthe end vertical plates 13, said plate 29 being provided with a bottomplate 30 which with the front plate and end plates 13 forms a receptacleadapted to receive oil cans. brooms, etc, which it is desired to placeout of the way where they will not be exposed to view but which may beobtained quickly when ranted.

This makes a very simple work b'ench which is particularly desirable forthe engine rooms of war vessels as the bench oc cupics but little spacewhen not in use and even then forms a closed cupboard for the storage ofvarious forms of articles.

When thebench is in use it is very rigid and may be utilized in makingrepairs to the engines and other machines located on the vessel.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be fully understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination of a pair of wall brackets; a strut pivotedto each bracket; a bench hinged to the inner faces of the upper ends ofsaid struts; a fixed rigid wall support on which the rear end of saidbench is adapted to rest; and means pivotally connected to said strutsfor locking said bench in operative position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of wallbrackets; a strut pivoted to each bracket; a bench hinged to the upperends of said struts; a fixed rigid wall support on which the rear end ofsaid bench is adapted to rest; two stationary members at the rear ofsaid struts; a member pivoted to each strut; and locking connectorsbetween said pivoted members and said stationary members and adjustablethereon to force the rear edge of said bench into firm contact with theFace of the wall to which said brackets are secured.

3. In a device of the class described the con'ibination of a pair ofwall brackets; a strut pivoted to each bracket; a bench hinged to theupper ends of said struts; a fixed rigid wall support on which the rearend of said bench adapted to rest; two stationary members at the rear ofsaid struts; a threaded member pivoted to each strut; and meansrotatable on said stationary members and provided with threads coacting;with the threaded ends of said pivoted members. whereby said bench maybe locked in operative position.

at. In a device of the class described the combination of a pair of wallbrackets; a strut pivoted to each bracket; a bench hinged to the upperends of said struts; a wall support for the rear end of said bench; twostationary threaded members the rear of said struts; a threaded memberpivoted to each strut; and turn buckles for connecting the threaded endsof said pivoted members and said stationary members.

Signed by me at 4- Post Office Sq, Boston. Mass" this 14th day ofJanuary 1918.

ADOLPH R. WERNER.

Witnesses:

Vi' Aii'rnn E. LOMBARD; NA'IIIAN C. LOMBARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

